Mayor Coleen J. Seng today presented the Mayor’s Award of Excellence for
January to Bus Operator Clifton Carpenter of the StarTran division of
Public Works and Utilities. The monthly award recognizes City employees
who consistently provide exemplary service and work that demonstrates
personal commitment to the City. The award was presented at the beginning
of today’s City Council meeting.

Carpenter has worked for the City since 2002. He was nominated by StarTran
Field Supervisor Dave Tivis in the category of safety for his actions last
November 6 when a teenage girl ran up to the bus he was operating at
Centennial Mall and Q Street. The girl seemed to be out of breath, and was
not wearing shoes or a coat. After Carpenter questioned the girl, she
admitted she was a runaway. Carpenter contacted StarTran dispatch and
asked for a Police Officer. The officer took custody of the girl, who was
then returned to her mother. Tivis said the fact that Carpenter took note
of the girl’s plight and took action to help her substantially increased
the teenager’s level of safety that day.

The other categories in which employees can be nominated are customer
relations, valor, productivity and loss prevention. All City employees are
eligible for the Mayor’s Award of Excellence except for elected officials
and some managers. Individuals or teams can be nominated by supervisors,
peers, subordinates and the general public. Nomination forms are available
from department heads, employee bulletin boards or the Personnel
Department, which oversees the awards program.

Nominations are reviewed by the Mayor’s Award of Excellence Committee,
which includes a representative with each union and a non-union
representative appointed by the Mayor. Award winners receive a $100 U.S.
savings bond, a day off with pay and a plaque. Monthly winners are
eligible to receive the annual award, which comes with a $500 U.S. savings
bond, two days off with pay and a plaque.